Parallel strip.



'W. B. RUNBEGK. PARALLEL STRIP. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 7, 1907.

91 0,959. Patented Jan. 26, 1909.

WILLIAM B. RUNBEO K, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

PARALLEL STRIP.

' Specification of' Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 26, 1909.

Application filed November 7,1907. Serial No. 401,151.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. RUNBECK, a citizen of the. United.States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Parallel Strips; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in parallel strips and comprisesthe provision of a plurality of beveled members interlocked for holdingsame together to permit the longitudinal movement of each member.

The invention further comprises the pro; vision of a spacing deviceformedof a plurality of parts having a beveled surface along one edgeand a straight surface along the other for providing a structure thatwhen brought in the same horizontal plane have their outer edgesextended to the farthest extent for spreading or spacing the parts ofany desired object or for clamping in position any object.

The invention still further comprises a spreading device orparallel-strip formed with beveled surfaces and grooves designed tointerlock for holding the various parts of the parallel strip in correctrelation to each other,

together with a clamping means for locking the parallel strip together.

The object in view is the provision of a parallel strip which may beformed of a plurality of parts, each part having a beveled edge and alongitudinal groove, the groove in each part interlocking, and means forguiding and alsoclamping the parts together'.. I

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises certainnovel constructions; combinations, and arrangement of parts that will behereinafter more fully described and claimed. r

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of myinvention shown in a closed position. Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofone-half of my parallel strip, a curved portion thereof being "shownexaggerated for more clearly showing the structure. Fig. 3 is a planview of a clamping member forming part of the present invention. Fig. 4is an edge view of one of the members forming part of thepresentinvention. Fig. 5 is an 7 end view of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an end view ofFig. 4, looking at the small end thereof. Fig. 7 is a perspective viewof a blank which is designed to be cut in half for forming the twospreading members of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a section throughFig. 2 on line 88.

In the present invention it is designed to provide a spacing or clampingbar or parallel strip for spacing or supporting in position any objector article desired to be 0 erated upon, amilling machine, plane, orthelike, or may be used tosupport in position any desired article.Constructing the present invention I form the spreading memberspreferably out of one piece of material as shown in Fig. 7 of thedrawing.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 indicates a blank that hasbeen properly milled and is twice the length of the parallel stripforming the present invention. In constructing this blank the same ismachined until it is perfectly level and true so that edge 2 will be atright-angles to the ends 3 land 4. Edge 5 however will be at an angle tothe ends 3 and 4, the end 4'being much smalleror narrower than end 3.This will give a substantial bevel to surface or edge 5 in relation toedge 2 as clearly seen in Fig. 4. After the sides and ends have beenproperly shaped a groove or way 6 is provided along the beveled edge ofthe blank. In providing the groove the same may be sawed or simplymilled and it is designed to I be milled to such a depth that thedistance from the bottom of the groove tothe bottom of the blank is thesame as from the top of the blank to the top edge of a flange 7 formedby reason of the groove. This will permit easy fit when the blank issawed or cut approximately in the center thereof, for instance on line9-9. After the blank has been cut in half the respective ends may betelescoped or fitted into each other, the flange 7 of one part fittinginto the groove 6 of the other part. By reason of the depth of thegroove 6 and the height of the flange 7 the respective parts when fittedtogether will have their upper surfaces on the same plane and also theirlower surfaces.

One of the parts of the blank after the blank has been severed, formswhat may be termed part 10, the remaining part will be ig. 7 forms thecomplete article, a guiding and clamping member 12 being used inconnection therewith. Part 10 is designed to be machined or filed offslightly in the center thereof at 13 for forming a depressed portion.The depressed portion 13 does not extend the entire length of part 10but falls short of the ends thereof. Clamping member 12 is secured tothe end of part 10 by screws 14: and 15 that preferably are counter-sunkand have their heads machined off so as to be flush with the uppersurface of the clamping member. A clamping bolt or screw 16 ispositioned substantially centrally of member 12 and passes throughmember 12 into part 10 and is screw-threaded therein as clearly seen inFig. 8. This is arranged so that when desired bolt or screw 16 may betightened and cause clamping member 12 to press against part 11 when thesame is in position. This will entirely prevent any longitudinalmovement of part 11 or simply dampen the movement thereof.

It will of course be evident that part 10 may be constructed as clearlyseen in Fig. 7, and then part 11 construcetd in a similar manner exceptthat the same will be constructed left-handed. The two parts are thenfitted together and cut in half if desired for making two tools or maybe left their original size for making one large tool. After the partshave been thus. fitted together the depressed portion 13 is formed andthe spring is. placed in position. By this means a structure or tool isquickly and easily pro vided and one that is very strong and durable andquickly and easily accomplishing the objects for which it isconstructed. The groove 6 and flange 7 of each member also forms animportant feature of the invention in that the same will. so interlockas to positively prevent any motion except the longitudinal movement,and the longitudinal movement is regulated by clamping and guidingmember 13 which is not only used to clamp and prevent longitudinalmovement of parts 10 and 11 but also is designed to prevent any lateralmovement of part 11 after the same has been placed in position as shown.in Fig. 1.

In use or operation the members 10 and 11 are moved from the positionshown in Fig. 7 until their small ends 17 and 18 respectively are nearto each other. This Will-cause the upper surface 19 of member 11 and thelower surface 20 of member 10 to come nearer to each other. The tool isthen placed in position against or in proximity to the device desired tobe held and then either member 10 or 11 or both are moved to theposition. shown in. Fig. 1, or if desired the members 10' and 11 may bemoved so that the large endv of one part will be-- near the large end ofthe other part. This will,

part 11, each one fitted together as seen in as will be evident, spreador move apart the top surface 19 and the bottom surface 20 andconsequently press against the article being held for firmly holding thesame in position. The clamping member 13 is then caused to grip or clampmember 11 by reason of the tightening of the bolt or screw 13. This willprevent any longitudinal movement of either of the parts 10 or 11 sothat the same are held from accidental movement and consequent releasingWhile the article is being held.

hat I claim is:

1. In a machinists tool, a parallel strip formed of interlockingmembers, each of said interlocking members being provided with a beveledsurface, and a groove evtending longitudinally of the member at an.angle to the beveled surface, and a clamping bar secured to one of saidmembers and engaging the other of said members for preventinglongitudinal movement of both members, and means for regulating thetension of said clamping bar.

2. In a machinists tool, a parallel strip formed of interlockingmembers, each of said interlocking members being formed with a beveledsurface in opposition to the other, and one of said members beingformedv with a depressed portion, a spring clamping member secured toone of said members and extending above said depressed portion, andmeans for forcing said spring member into said depressed portion forclamping said members together.

3. In a machinists tool, a parallel strip formed of a plurality ofparts, each part having a beveled surface, the beveled surfaces beingadapted to contact for permitting the outer edges of the parts topresent parallel surfaces and to permit the variation of the i distancebetween said parallel surfaces, a flange and groove on each of saidparts, the flange of one part being adapted to engage the groove of theother part, one of said parts being formed with a depressed portioncentrally, a spring member secured to the part having the depressedportion, and means for forcing said spring member into said depressedportion for clamping said parts together.

4. In a machinists tool, a parallel strip formed of a plurality ofparts, each part having a beveled surface, the beveled surfaces beingdesigned to contact for permitting the outer edgesof the parts to bevaried in their distance from each other, and means for holding saidparts together, said means comprising a spring plate secured to one ofsaid parts at its ends, and a tension screw for pressing the center ofsaid sprin toward said members for clamping the same together.

5. In a machinists tool, a parallel strip formed of interlockingmembers, each of said members being provided with a beveled surface, oneface of one of the members being of irregular contour, and a clampingbar secured to the said face of the said member and adapted to be s rungto conform to the contour of the said face of the said member to exert aclamping action against the other member and thereby hold the membersagainst relative movement.

I In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

WILLIAM B. RUNBECK.

Witnesses:

Y A. S. KIToHIN,

ROBINSON WHITE.

